Duels in Denver: The history of Denver�s settlement is fraught with duels and bloodshed. Previous to the war personal differences which were of too grave a character to be settled by arbitration were ended, not as at present in street fights, but strictly in accordance with the code, a much more genteel and more sensible practice, inasmuch as it is accompanied with less danger and infinitely more eclat. Quite a number of gentlemen first settling in Denver "brought with them," says the writer, "their dueling pistols and their feudal ideas of honor. Among these were Park McClure, the first postmaster of Denver, who, when the war broke out, went south; J. T. Coleman, editor of the first democratic paper published west of the Missouri river; Judge Harrison of Virginia and Doctor Stone."
    All these had "been out" and killed or winged their man before leaving the east, and all were willing to take chances at the same business in the western country. Park McClure had the distinguished honor of fighting the first duel according to the code in Colorado. He challenged Recorder Whittsitt of Denver, and the fight was carried out according to the strictest formula of Judge Lyde Wilson�s code. McClure was an experienced duelist; Whittsitt knew nothing scarcely even of the use of firearms. He met his opponent, however, and at the given word shut his eyes and blazed away. He escaped uninjured, but the chances of war brought down McClure, who fell with a bullet through his leg.
    Subsequently McClure - recovering - was appointed postmaster. He charged a heavy price for his boxes, and always compelled payment in advance. Ned Wynkoop was a young man from Kansas, who dropped over into Denver and located here. He was a wild-cat sort of fellow, and generally in debt. He was in arrearages, among other incidentals, with the post-office.
    McClure refused to give him his mail until he settled up his indebtedness, whereupon Wynkoop promptly challenged him; the challenge was accepted and the meeting arranged for ten days after date, the postponement being necessary to permit the postmaster to settle up his affairs; the weapons selected were rifles. Pending the time between the challenge and the day of active business Wynkoop was in the habit of giving some of his friends a private circus in the exhibition of his skill with the rifle. At the distance of sixty paces he would strike a mark the size of a silver dollar every time, and as the tenth day drew at hand amused himself and his particular friends by accomplishing that feat blind-folded and firing his rifle with one hand. These remarkable exploits reached McClure and he wisely apologized, gave up the letters and sent Wynkoop a receipt for a quarter�s rent in advance.
    Of all of the duels in Colorado in the years �59, �60 and �61 but one resulted fatally. Dr. Stone, who hailed from Louisiana, challenged Lewis Bliss. The weapons employed were shot-guns loaded with one-ounce slugs; Bliss was uninjured but Stone was mortally wounded and after lingering two months passed away.
    The majority of the duels were, like those of the last campaign in Virginia, bloodless, or amicably arranged without the necessity of burning powder or wasting lead. The first journalistic duelist was J. T. Coleman, who challenged Hamilton Hunt; their quarrel was about a lady, and each deemed that Colorado was too small a land for both to exist in at the same time; a challenge was the result and pistols the weapons; both men were expert shots and a fatal result was anticipated, but upon arriving on the grounds their seconds skillfully arranged a settlement, and instead of a duel, an impromptu spree was organized, and the two rivals swore eternal fellowship over whisky with grass in it.
    The last of the Colorado duelists of the old time was Judge Harrison, and his last duel, as an Irishman might be accused of saying, was no duel at all. The Judge was an ancient Virginian who dressed like John Randolph of Roanoke, and wore, even in the western wilds, a powdered wig. He had been Marshall's second in his famous duel with J. Watson Webb when the latter was editor of the Courier and Inquirer - a duel in which he was crippled for life. Harrison had in his possession the pistol used by Marshall in that encounter, and also the weapon with which Burr killed Alexander Hamilton. He had "been out" on several occasions in his life, and was a firm believer in the code. One day while trying a case before the probate court, Harrison moved for a continuance, which motion the Judge, Henry Clough refused. Harrison rose to his feet, denounced the judge and then and there in the courtroom challenged him to mortal combat. The judge didn�t care to fight, and without further argument granted the continuance asked for - by the dueling attorney.
    The days of duels in Colorado are now happily over. Nowadays, when a man has a grievance against his neighbor, he either sells him watered mining stock or plugs him with a revolver on sight without any previous formality.

    The Texas Invasion: When the rebellion broke out the Texas people organized an army to invade New Mexico and seize the country as far north as the Arkansas. The expedition was organized at San Antonio, Texas, in the early days of 1862. The object was to subjogate New Mexico and add it to the southern confederacy. The troops left San Antonio in May, four thousand strong, well armed and equipped with four splendid batteries. The trip to El Paso was a picnic, the road from San Antonio being one of the best in the world. From El Paso the command struck up the Rio Grande valley, and established a base of supplies at Fort Fillmore.
    Reaching the vicinity of Fort Craig they met the Union Forces, under General Canby, consisting of a few regulars and the New Mexico militia. An exciting encounter took place, and the battle of Valverde was fought. The confederates won the victory, and the federal troops were driven across the river into the fort. Canby refused to surrender, and Sibley concluded that the place was too strong to take by storm, so he flanked the federals and came on up the valley. At Albuquerque a camp was established, and Major Teel was left in command while General Sibley and the effective men of the army pushed on north, the objective point being Fort Union, where an immense store of supplies had been concentrated for the federal forces operating in that territory.
    The confederate army reached Apache canon, on the Pecos river, near the present station of Glorieta, where they were confronted by the hardy mountaineers of Colorado, under the leadership of glorious Colonel Slough and grim Colonel Chivington. A sanguinary battle took place, lasting several hours, and the confederates were getting the best of the fight, when Chivington flanked the Texans, reached their rear and, blew up their ammunition train. After this disaster the confederates retreated closely pushed by the Union forces. In the meantime small pox and mountain fever had broken out in virulent form in the Texan army, and the hospital at Santa Fe, New Mexico, was crowded with the sick.
    Twelve hundred gallant boys in gray gave up their lives to those dread disorders and their bones are mouldering in unknown graves at the plot of ground just in the rear of the old hospital building. The Union troops camped on the present site of the new city of Albuquerque, and a smart Cannonade took place, the confederate batteries being posted near Huning�s mills in old town. In the night the retreat south began, and it was a woeful journey. At Paralta a lively skirmish took place; and again the confederates stole away in the night. The line of retreat was over the plains west of Socorro. In the first twenty-four hours after leaving Albuquerque Major Teel lost ninety artillery horses from exhaustion.
    Sick men were left at every mile on the road, and heartrending scenes were witnessed on that long retreat. Almost out of ammunition, without food, ragged and foot-sore, the army reached the Mesilla valley. Having a few portable mills, all wheat in that valley was impressed, and a flock of fifteen hundred goats secured. Upon this wheat and goat�s milk the army subsisted until they reached Texas. Near Mesilla the Mexicans rallied and killed fourteen of the troops who were foraging. When the battered army reached El Paso it was utterly demoralised, but could not stop, being pursued by Carleton's cavalry. At Eagle Springs, Texas, the pursuit ceased, and the weary Texans took a rest before pushing on to the gulf.

Source:

Unknown, "Reminiscences: Duels in Denver," Field and Farm. Devoted to the Agricultural Interests of the Great West, Denver, Colorado, Volume 3, No. 14, (January 9, 1892), p. 6.

    I'd like to thank Nancy Spencer, [email protected], of Denver, Colorado for the vast amount of time she's spent on my behalf at the Denver Public Library, the Colorado Historical Society and the Denver Branch of the National Archives over the past couple of years. I don't know that I'll ever be able to repay her for her many kindnesses and the keen interest she's taken in my Wynkoop research project. Nancy searched long and hard for these articles from Field and Farm for me. For a small paper with an even smaller circulation there is a lot of material on Ned Wynkoop here. I would have missed it all without your invaluable help.

    Thanks so much Nancy!

    Chris